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ILL. 



HISTORIGAL SKETGH 



BY- 



V 
CHARLES W. HQFFMAN. LL. B. 



1S96 . „,- , 



w^svv 



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What tales if there he tongues in trees; 

These giant oaks could tell, 

Of beings born and buried here. 

HALLECK. 



.... NORWOOD, OHIO 

Stanley M. Langdon & Company, printers 



Copyright 1896 

BY 

Charles W. Hoffman. 



THE HISTORY eF 



OAK Hlhb 

AND • Its • INHABItANrS. 



ON a small eminence, a mile and a half north-east of Glendale, 
near that which was formerlj^ known as the Kemper School 
^^ House stand two stately oaks, whose branches towering 
toward the zenith in majestic beauty, have swa)'ed in the breezes 
of more than a centur3^ 

So imposing was their appearance in time past, that their site 
and the surrounding community took the appelation of Oak Hill. 
This name is now applied to the little hamlet that has sprung 
up near them. To the westward is the village of Springdale 
around which cluster so many historical associations that have 
been the themes of eloquent orators and accomplished writers. 
Her deeds have been extolled; her sons and ancestors have been 
spoken of in terms of highest commendation, and the praise thus 
bestowed upon her has not been undeserved as she can boast of a 
histor}^ far superior to that of her sister villages. Sharon occu- 
pying a beautiful site under the hill two miles to the southeast and 
Glendale, the queen of suburbs, have also been recognized on the 
page of local history. But of Oak Hill naught has been said ; 
she, too, has had sons who .shared in the hardships of the settle- 
ments at White's and Tucker's stations ; marched through the 
wilderness in the army of General Wayne ; rejoiced in the victory 
of the war of 1812 ; gazed from the summit of the Cordilleras on 
the palaces of the Montezumas in 1848 ; and, in the late Rebellion 
fought for the emancipation of the slaves. 

Nearl}' a century ago, and, before the villages of Glendale and 
Sharon had an existence, the ancestors of the present residents of 
Oak Hill, coming from Massachusetts, New Jersej^ and Virginia 
purchased lands of John Cleves Symmes, near the head waters of . 
Millcreek about twenty miles north of P'ort Washington. This 
location was then "an unbroken solitude of forests," no habita- 



4 TIIK HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 

tions of man were here, save the wigwams of the Miami Indians 
on the shores of the stream that was called in the vernacular of 
these sons of the forest, Maketewa. The nearest neighbors 
of the settlers were at White's Station ; they were alone on the 
border line of civilization, in what was then the wilderness of the 
West. 

Being drawn- to each other by the similarit}^ of their circum- 
stances the>' a.ssemblcd, in 1805, on the hillside east of the present 
residence of A. B. Swallow and constructed a rude building which 
served as a church, a school, and a general place of rendezvous. 
Harboring an aversion to dwelling in towns or closely crowded 
connnunities they established their homes apart from each other ; 
preferring, at convenient seasons, to gather at this central struct- 
ure ; exchange their greetings, and indulge in the merriment of the 
singing school, the spelling bee and frequently, it may be, the won- 
ders of the itinerant .showauan. 

This brief sketch is written for the puri:)ose of indicating to the 
present citizens of this rural district the progress that has been 
made in the community in the development of its natural resour- 
ces, and in religious and educational facilities by reason of the 
moral stamina, untiring zeal and endless enterprise of this little 
band of pioneers and their descendants. 

m THE # INDIANS- N> 



The location ot which we write is within the Millcreek vallej-. 
We cannot ascertain with any degree of certaint}' what Indian 
tribes occupied this region before the Revolution. It is said that 
certain clans of the Miami Indians, known as the Twightwees, 
occupied the tract between the Wabash and the Big Miami rivers, 
while the Shawnees were near the Muskingum and the Scioto. 
The Delewares were scattered throughout all the tribes. The 
Iriquois in 1660, after having exterminated a tribe south of I^ake 
Erie, carried their conquests to the Ohio Valley. The Miamis, 
Delawares and Shawnees were driven westward, and, according to 
some authorities beyond the Mississippi. 

' After the lap.se of a few years, we find that they had regained 
their lands and the Iriquois retreated to the north-east. If this 
be true their warriors nuist have crossed and recros.sed the country 



THE HISTORY OF OAK IIIIX. 5 

in this vicinity, which, being near the great Indian trail ( Waj'ne 
Avenue ) leading to the Ohio ri\-er, may have been the scene of 
man}- a spirited skirmish. But General Harrison in an address 
before the Historical Societ}' of Ohio claims that this conquest 
never occurred and that the Miamis "have occupied the country 
between the Sciofo and Wabash from time immemorial." Little 
Turtle claimed thei-e boundaries in a speech at the treaty of Green- 
ville in 1795. 

After the Revolution, when the country was released from the 
sovereignty of George IH., and the colonies were yet in a state of 
primitive development, many people looked toward the North-west 
Territor}- as a place where they might begin life anew under favor- 
able auspices, and repair their lost fortunes. Therefore, in 1790 
we find several settlements on the northern and western borders 
of the present state of Ohio. 

The settlers anticipations of pleasant and quiet homes were 
blighted. The experiences of the early colonists were reiterated; 
the red men were their foes. They became so hostile that in 
1 791 President Washington sent General Harmarto subdue them ; 
He organized his army of 1500 men at Ft. Washington ( Cincin- 
nati), and marched up the Ljebanon road, through Lebanon and 
Xenia, to near Ft. Wayne, where he was defeated and compelled 
to fall back to Ft. Washington with immense loss. 

The aversion of the troops to Harmar caused the command of 
the next expedition to be given to Governor St. Clair whose name 
will ever be coupled with that of defeat and disgrace, how merit- 
ed we are unable to determine from the various conflicting ac- 
counts, found in our histories. Its object was to establish a mili- 
tary post on the Maumee. The inadvertency and incapacity of 
some inferior officers delayed the arnu' until the 7tli of September 
1 791 when it marched to Ft. Ludlow, near the College Hill junc- 
tion of the C. H. & D. railroad, thence up the Winton Road, (two 
miles west of vSpringdale ) to Hamilton, where Ft. Hamilton was 
built. He then proceeded to the northward, when on the night of 
November 3rd., he arrived near Ft. Recovery on the banks of the 
Wabash in Mercer County. That night the wily Indian quietly 
encircled his arm>' ; at dawn the echoing of the war whoop appris- 
ed the soldiers of the presence of the enemy ; for four hours the 
forest was the scene of carnage and blood shed ; the savage quick- 
eried by the incentive, that he was fighting for the home of his 



6 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 

ancestors, the \vliite man b\- that of opening for ci\ihzation and 
cuhiire, a territory "capable of maintaining innumerable genera- 
tions of human beings," contested the victory with equal valor. • 
After a severe .struggle 894 of vSt. Clair's men were killed ; the 
others fled precipitately to the southward. 

"The word "Retreat;" being passed around, 
Tliere was a dismal cry, 
Then helter-skelter through the woods, 
' Like wolves and sheep they fly. 

This well appointed army 

Who but a day before, 
Defied and braved all danger. 

Had like a cloud passed o'er. 

Alas, the dying and wounded. 

How dreadful was the thought ; 
To the tomahawk and scalping-knii'e 

In mis'ry are brought. 
Some had a thigh, and some an arm broke 

On the field, that day. 
Who writhed in torments at the stake, 

To close the dire affray. " 

OLD BALLAD. 

The Indians were now exultant. Through the instrument- 
ality of Little Turtle, they had gained two decided victories. But 
their exultation was transient ; General Wayne, the memory of 
whom is ever held in high veneration by the citizens of the North- 
west Territory, was now appointed major-general of the army. 
He had fought w'ith exceptional valor, in many battles of the 
Revolution, and through his influence, hope was restored to the 
terror-.stricken Northwest. He organized his army at "Hobson's 
Choice" near the gas works at Cincinnati. He first marched to 
Ft. Ludlow, then up Wayne Avenue through Carthage, Hartwell 
and Lockland ; over Foster's hill, where once stood Jonathan 
Spillman's tavern ; thence to Glendale, Springdale and Hamilton, 
then onward to the Maumee. 

On the twentieth of August 1793 he attacked the Indians ; the 
immense nttmber of fallen tiees on the field of battle gave it the 
name of "Fallen Timbers." General Wayne was completely vic- 
torious ; he laid waste the beautiful valley of the Maumee and 
dictated the terms of the treaty of (jreenville in 1795. 

After this the Indians gave the settlers but little cause for fear; 
some of the settlements that had been abandoned during the war 
were resumed and the white man could now make his clearing, 
build his cabin and sow his .seed without fear or molestation. 



THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 7 

It is evident that more than a century ago, these armies passed 
near the purUeus of Oak Hill : that of General Wayne needs par- 
ticularly to be noted. It is said his force extended from Spring- 
dale to Sharon : first came the spies and sharpshooters, then the 
axmen cutting through the well nigh impenetrable forests, then 
the cannon after which came the infantry and cavalry. Near the 
gravel bank on the farm of Mr. George Hosteller tradition says, a 
skirmish took place with some straggling Indians, several of whom 
were killed. The finding of human bones in the locality- recently 
may be slight evidence of its truth. 

The most serious Indian attack ever made near Oak Hill, was 
that of White's Station which was established in 1790 on the site 
of the ice pond near Carthage, by Jacob White. Among the 
heroes who participated in that renowned battle was Providence 
White, then a boy nine years of age. He was the uncle of Arthur 
Sorter Jr. to whom he often related the details of that renowned 
event, which is substantially as follows: 

Near twilight on October 19, 1793 the continual barking of the 
dogs, attracted the attention of an inmate of the station, who, 
against urgent remonstrances, went out to see the cause of their 
disturbance. He had proceeded but a short distance when he was 
shot by the savages, who came rushing toward the fort, the occu- 
pants of which now consisted of 7 men, a boy, and several women 
the latter moulding bullets while the men used the guns. 

The kilhng of the Indian chief as he was scaling the fence 
caused them to retreat a short distance, whence they kept up an 
unceasing fire upon the settlers. About midnight Captain White 
realizing that without aid all efforts to repulse them were futile, 
strapped his son Providence to a horse and dispatched him to Ft. 
Washington for aid; bidding him, as the southern gates of the 
fort were opened, to hollow if he escaped unhurt. As the steed, 
in the manner of Paul Revere's, dashed into the gloomy darkness, 
the boy triumphantly uttered the signal of safety, yet, when 
arriving at Ft. Washington, he found his boot full of blood, from 
a wound of the great toe. Assistance came in the morning, but 
the savages being informed of their approach, had fled during the 
night. 

Providence White, who was born in Pennsylvania or \'irginia 
March 9, 1784, was well known by many of the old residents of 
this vicinitv. His abstruse character and eccentricities are well 



8 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILI,. 

remembered. He, usually, wore his hair in long curls sometimes 
plaited, and tied behind with a ribbon. His boots upon which 
huge spurs were fastened, resembled moccasins, being made, some- 
times, of fur hides sewed together in such a manner as to perform 
additional service as leggings. 

Po-ssessing rare equestrian traits, he was, almost invariabl}', 
seen on horse- back. At one time, while admiring some fine colts 
of Arthur Sorter Sr. he, suddenly, leaped upon one of them with 
the dexterity of a circus rider. After standing upright on the 
frightened animal as it galloped several times around the enclosure 
he descended to the ground while the colt was at full speed, with 
ease and grace. 

Mr. White ver}- frequently, would suddenly disappear. He 
took long journeys, to what destination no one can tell. He 
would be gone for months. His return from one of these tours 
was marked by his unexpected appearance near the old home of 
Mr. Sorter in a wagon drawn by oxen and reminding us in its 
contour of one of the ancient ships in which Columbus first sailed 
to America. By his side in this rude conveyance sat a smiling 
bride whose name and habitation history does not reveal. 

^ THE » PdBLie * se^eeiiS. ^ 



The beneficial results of modern improvements and inno^•ations 
are nowhere more manifest than in the school systems of the pres- 
ent time. In the earl}' days of the century, the school course 
was composed of- the three R's, special attention being given to the 
reading of the Testament. At that time the whole country was 
covered with forests ; the roads, if any, were often times impass- 
able so that regular attendance was not possible ; the rude school 
buildings were seldom comfortable, and the methods of teaching 
inferior to those now in vogue. 

As other institutions have dcA-eloped until they now approach 
perfection, we can easily discern that the .'•chools. too, ha\-e pro- 
gressed in an equal degree until they are now the pride of our 
country. 

The Oak Hill School is a fair instance of this gradual evolu- 
tion. The first school house, the corner stone of which is yet to 
b; seen, was located about the year 1800 immediately east of the 



The history of oak hill. 9 

residence of Mr. Arthur Swallow, near the stone quarry formerly 
owned by Mr. Mack. It was often used as a church, and among 
the congregation on a Sabbath morning might have been seen Mr. 
and Mrs. lyittle, grandfather and grandmother of Mr. Cornelius 
Little, who, himself has now lived the three score years and ten 
allotted to man. 

The building having no floor but the solid earth, was built of 
logs. Nature contributed her share by supplying for the mas- 
ter's desk the stump of an oak, against which it is said, a luckless 
urchin once had the dire mishap of wounding his toes. The desks 
were made of slabs supported by wooden pegs, trunks of trees 
serving as .seats. The names of none of the pupils are known ex- 
cept that of the late Mr. John Swallow, who loved to refer to it as 
the place where his school days were pas.sed. 

This structure being destroyed by fire, the next was southeast 
of the residence of Mr. Pliny Waters. Nothing is known con- 
cerning this except that John Swallow, Benjamin Swallow and 
Levi White were pupils. 

To the east of that noble mansion of Mr. Daniel Mack's, 
which still stands as the oldest brick house in the neighborhood, 
the next school house was constructed. It was a low, log struct- 
ure, having across one end of the room, a great fire place. The 
roof was made of boards fastened on poles ; the windows were 
greased paper pasted over openings in the walls ; yet, as seemingly 
uncouth as this building may appear, it had its advantages. The 
floor was so rickety and the spaces between the logs sometimes so 
great, that there was no need of artificial ventilation ; nature at all 
times, especially in winter, .supplied an abundance of pure air. 

The course of study was now enlarged, geography and Eng- 
lish grammar being added to that which was taught in the preced- 
ing .schools. The teacher's position became more permanent, as 
he now taught a specified number of days and made some prepar- 
ation for his work. In the earlier schools the school-master, 
chosen from among the most intelligent .settlers, performed the 
duties of his high calling, after he had attended to the varied lab- 
ors of the farm. He who could read, write, and wield the birch, 
was considered competent to teach. But now he was hired for a 
term usually consisting of three months ; his wages being a given 
sum of money and lodging, which latter he procured by visiting 
the various. families in the district. 



lO THE HISTORi' OF OAK HILL. 

The names of none of the great numbers of teachers who 
taught here are known except those of John Todd, Mr. Ramer, 
and Ehza GilHard. Among the pupils were Mrs. Martha Gorman 
(Larew) Moses Larew, Wilham Hutchinson, Mrs. Charity Car- 
man (Sharp J Jane Sharp, Ruth Brecount, Keziah Larue (Paugh) 
Wni. \ ankirk, John Vankirk, Clark Brecount, Eh Hutchinson 
and Conaelius Little, some of whom are now living. Mr. Little 
speaks of a custom that we find peculiar to all the schools of this 
date, that of locking out the teacher ; especially was this the case 
as the Christmas season approached. The older boys then inform- 
ed the obliging pedagogue that the\' expected the annual "treat" ; 
upon his failing to comply with their request, they, at the first 
opportunity gained possession of the school house during the 
night and proceeded to bar and and fasten the doors and windows. 
The master was greeted the next morning with this unexpected 
state of affairs. In common with those of his profession, lie nat- 
urally harbored a great aversion to being outwitted b}' his pupils. 
Therefore, after trying all other expedients to gain admission, he 
concludes to go down the chimney. No sooner does he begin 
this maneuvre than a dense volume of .smoke causes him to de.sist : 
the "young rebels," had supplied themselves with a bundle of 
damp straw. 

He uses moral stiasion as a last resort and agrees to furnish a 
bushel of apples and a pail of cider, upon which proposition the 
doors are immediately opened." 

Mr Daniel Hutchinson, who lived but a short distance east 
of the school house, owned a spring from which the school obtain- 
ed water. After a while Mr. Hutchinson began to object to their 
using it. One daj^ in autumn as the children were scrubbing the 
school house floor his wife visited the school and had a severe 
altercation with the teacher, Miss Gilliard. That night the school 
house was burned. The finding of .several books and a broom 
in the housa of Mr. Hutchinson confirmed the belief among the 
people that he was the incendiar>-. There was no other evidence 
that he did the act, but he soon removed from the neighborhood. 

Mr. Miller Applegate having sold his land to Arthur Sorter, 
Sr., removed from his house situated near the northwest corner of 
the Kemper woods. This was u.sed for school purposes until an- 
other could be built. Sometime was now spent in deciding upon a 
suitable location, but at length Mr. James Little dedicated a lot 



The history ok oak hill. ii 

south of Mr. Applegate's house in the southeast corner of the 
field^ now owned by his son Cornehus. A brick building was 
erected on this eighteen feet wide and twenty-four feet long. 

The great number of pupils enrolled on the registers of this 
and the subsequent schools, renders it inexpedient to name them ; 
but the. teachers, being less numerous, we will attempt to mention 
them in their consecutive order. Those who taught in this build- 
ing are as follows; Emma Besque, Michael Ellet, John Coggs, 
Judge Joseph Cox. (who now has a national reputation as an ac- 
complished and learned jurist), Mr. House, Mr. Cross, James 
Cowell, and Mr. Barnett, who lived in a house southeast of the 
Kemper homestead. ' ' 

After several years the dimensions of this house were not 
great enough to accomodate the inci easing attendance. Mr. Morse 
in 1842, donated a site situated in the north-west corner of the 
pieseni- pla3^ground. With some of the old material a new struct- 
ure was built, eighteen feet wide and thirty-four feet long. 

"It is around this building that the pleasant recollections of the 
parents of the present generation linger. They remember it as the 
school of their youth. Not alone do they love to speak of it as 
the institution in which their school days were passed, but of the 
many pleasant evenings spent within its walls while learning the 
rudiments of Music, taught b\ the singing master, Mr. Dent. 
Although half a century has passed, there has been no difficulty in 
ascertaining the names of the long list of teachers, around almost 
every one of whom cluster some little anecdotes. They are as 
follows : Joseph Chinnyworth, who forged an order upon the 
school board and obtained money intended for educational purpos- 
es ; Joseph Garriges, Rebecca Crosson, Westchester Wayne, Thonl!- 
as Wallace, Wilson Cochran, (now an eminent judge) ; Abraham 
L,acey. (who while teaching was suddenly taken with hemorrhage 
of the lungs from the effects of which he died); Augustus Kemper 
(a relative of that noble family of Kempers whose influence for 
good is still felt throughout the district ; William Kemper, Lydia 
Hageman, William Kelley, Lizzie Hageman, John B. Johnson, 
Chas. Hopkins, John Tyler, (who was obliged to clo.se the school 
owing to the ravages of the scarlet fever ) ; Thomas Shepherd, Cor- 
nelia Saunders, Lucinda Hageman, Eliza Chapin, Matilda Hook, 
Charles White, Mary Hook, William Amnion, Miss Jones and ^ 
Henry Dubbs. 



12 THK HISTORY OF OAK HILIv. 

1111872 the present edifice was constructed. The first teach- 
er was John Moore, now one of our most influential citizens ; he 
was succeeded by Frank McClellan. Another room was now 
added to the school building and an additional teacher employed. 
Under the new arrangements Mr. A. Ginn and Miss Alice Henri- 
etta were the first to hold positions. Mr. Ginn was succeeded by 
Miss Alice Henrietta whose successor as primary teacher was 
Miss Jennie Perlee. ** 

Under the supervision of Mr. George O. Carl, whose assistant 
was Miss Perlee, the school was classified into the regular grades, 
following the plan of the Cincinnati school course as far as it could 
be applied to the w^ants of a school of this grade. The three 
years during whi'ch Mr. Carl was principal were of the most pleas- 
ing character ; the school was raised to a higher standard than it 
had ever before known, and since then has done far more effective 
work. Mr. Carl was succeeded by Mr. Charles Shumard with 
Miss lyaura Avey as assistant ; they were progressive teachers, 
maintaining the high standard thus established by their predecess- 
ors,, and making improvements when they deemed them beneficial 
to the welfare of the school. Upon Mr. Shumard's entering the 
medical profession Mr. Charles Hoffman succeeded him as principal 
with Miss Beatrice Spooner assistant. They were elected in 1890 
and served until two years later when Mr. Hoffman entered the 
legal profession and Miss Spooner was called to the Wyoming 
schools. Mr. Frank Stevenson, a gentleman of remarkable ability 
and learning, was principal during 1893 with Miss Miller as assist- 
ant. Mr. Stevenson \\a.s succeeded by Mr. McUaughlin who, 
with Miss German of lyockland as assistant, are the present in- 
cumbents. 

m THE # SdNDAY # SGReeii. ^ 



On a bright day in July, 1869, two christian gentlemen, meet- 
ing by chance on the streets of Wyoming, had a conversation which 
resulted in the formation of definite plans for the organization of 
the present Sunday School. 

Preceding this time various denominations had used the school- 
hou.se as a place of religious wor.ship. In the history of the da>- 
school we find that church .services were held in the school-house 




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THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 1 3 

that was built about 1805. How long this custom continued we 
have not been able to ascertain, but there is no conclusive evidence 
that it was for any great length of time. The Springdale Presby- 
terian Church was organized in 1796, and it was at this place that 
the early settlers usually attended. 

Sometime before 1852, the Mormons held their services in the 
school-house located near the road on the land formerly owned by 
James L,ittle. Their mode of worship was peculiar : they seemed 
to have a tendency to illustrate the miracles of Christ. South of 
the Kemper bridge the}^ built trestle work across the canal about 
six inches beneath the surface of the water. That the younger 
members of their organization might have a visible representation 
of Christ walking on the water, they would form a procession — 
proceed to the canal and pass over the stream on this structure. 
As they had but few converts, they soon ceased their efforts to ob- 
tain recruits for their ranks in this neighborhood. Perhaps their 
lack of success may be attributed to some of the juveniles of the 
\dcinity, who, on one occasion cut away the trestle near the center 
of the canal, thus causing several of these religious enthusiasts to 
walk into the water. 

In 1852 a great revival was held in the school house formerly 
located within the play ground of the present school. It was con- 
ducted by Rev. Creighton Elliot, assisted b}- John Sorter, ]\Ir. 
Bealer, Mr. Gaston, Aaron Brown, Joseph Gorman and C. A. B. 
Kemper, the last of whom desen^es particular mention. 

Charles A. B. Kemper was the son of Rev. James Kemper, who 
came from Farquhar Coimty, Virginia sometime before 1800. He 
came from Walnut Hills to Oak Hill in 1835. The country at this 
time was in a poor state of cultivation and he bought loi acres of 
what is now the best farming land in Millcreek valley for thirty 
dollars per acre. The house in which he resided on "Kemper 
Farm" formerly stood in Cincinnati on the corner of Sixth and 
Main streets ; it was moved to tlie coinitry by means of the canal. 
He was a zealous member of the Springdale Presbyterian Church 
and aided in the church sen-ices held in the old school-houses. He 
always took a lively interest in the welfare of the community, and 
was for many years a member of the Board of Directors of School 
District number three. The descendants of Mr. Kemper are to 
this day noted for their Christian zeal and sterling character. 

At the revival of '52, quite a number were converted and be- 



14 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 

ing of the Baptist denomination, were baptized in the canal near 
the present residence of Gabriel Wirsch. 

Although the residents of the community were devout and 
conscientious, they had neither regular church services nor a sab- 
bath school until 1869. In the summer of 1868 Mr. C. A. B. 
Kemper through whose efforts the revival of 1852 was held, made 
an attempt to organize a sunday school. For some reason it was 
not successful. It was, then, in the following summer that he 
and Mr. A. C. Tyler had the conversation above mentioned. The 
result was, that on the fifth day of September 1869, with an 
attendance of sixtj' eight persons, the following officers were elec- 
ted : A. C. Tyler, Supt., Chas. Kemper, Asst. Supt., Alonzo 
Mc.Clellan, Treas. , Arthur Swallow, Secy., James B. McClel- 
lan, Librarian. The annual elections since that time ha^•e re- 
suUed as follows : 



I 870- I 

Supt. A. C. Tyler 
A. Supt. S. Crawford 
Secy. A. IMcClellan 
Treas. A. B. Swallow 
Libr'n. J. C. Hunt 

1^74-5 

Supt J F. Cunnintiham 
A. Supt. William Rudd 
Secv. Anna Swallow 
A. B. Swallow 
A. B Swallow 



Treas. 
Libr'n 

1S77-8 
Supt 



George Thompson 

A. Supt H. W. Hutches 

Secy. " " 

Treas. 

Libr'n 

1S80-1 

Supt 

A. vSupt. 

Secy. Mary Hoffman [Hampton 
Frank Ellis 
A. B Swallow 



1871-2 
A. C. Tyler 
D. DeCamp 
Neil C. Sullivan 
A. B. vSwallow 
J. B. McClellan 

1875-6 

J. F. Cunningham 
John H. Moore 
A. Swallow 
J. B. McClellan 
A. B. Swallow 
1878-9 

U,\\\ Hughes 
T. J. Duncan 



Charlotte Hoffman[Cruser]Matilda Gorman 
Matilda Gorman [Barrow] B. W. McClellan 
B. W. McClellan A. B. Swallow 

1881-2 

Thos. J. Duncan 



Thos. J. Duncan 



1872-3 1S73-4 

A. C. Tyler A. C. Tyler 

A. K. Blinn J. Cunningham 

Anna E. Swallow Wilson Gorman 
F. McClellan Anna Swallow 

A. B. Swallow A. B. Swallow 
1876-7 

J. F. Cunningham 
H. W. Hughes 
Anna Swallowl Alexander] 
John Alexander 
John Alexander 
1879-80 
A. C. Tyler 
Thos. J. Duncan 
Frank McClellan 
Laura E. Little 
A. B. Swallow 
1S82-3 
Thos. J. Duncan 



Treas. 

Libr'n. 

1883-4 

Supt 

A. vSupt 

Secy. 

Treas. 

Librn. 

1886-7 

Supt 



E. C. Ellis 



Mary Little [Powell] 
Seward Waters 
A. B. Swallow 

1S84-5 

Thomas J. Duncan 



Laura Little Mary E. Moore 

E. H. Hoffman Seward Waters 
E. H. Hoffman E. H. Hoffman 

1887-8 
Thomas J. Duncan Thomas J. Dimcan 
A, Supt Seward Waters Seward Waters 

Secy. Lulu Moore Lulu Moore 

Treas. Edgar Owen PMgar Owen 

Librn, J. W. Hoffman C. W. Hoffman 



Marv Little 
E. H, Hoffman 
A. B. Swallow 
1885-6 
Thomas J. Duncan 

Lulu Moore 
Edgar Owen 
J- W. Hoffman 
1 888-9 

Thomas J, Duncan 
Seward Waters 
Ivulu Moore 
Edgar Owen 
J. W. Hoffman 



THE HISTORY OF OAK HIU-. 1 5 

18S9-90 1S90-1 189 1 -2 

Supt Thomas J. Duncan Seward Waters Seward Waters 

A, Supt Chas. HoflFinan Edgar Owen Chas, IIofTniau 

Secy. Lulu Moore Lulu Moore Lulu Moore 

Treas Edgar Owen William Owen William Owen 

Librn \\'illiard Brecount Jacob Heipel Jacob Heipel 

1892-3 1893-4 1894-5 

Supt C. W. Hoffman Seward Waters Seward Waters 

A. Supt Seward Waters C. Hoflfman | E. Owen Edgar Owen 

Secy. Clare Lippleman Clare Lippleman Clare Lippleman 

Treas. William Owen William Owen William Owen 

Librn. Jacob Heipel Willard Brecount Willard Brecount 

1895-6 Supt. vSeward Waters. A. Supt. Edgar Owen Treas. W. Owen 
Secy. Clare Lippleman Libr'n. Harry Newton. 

The finst anniversar}^ was celebrated in the adjoining' grove on 
September 4th, 1.870. The Rev. Dr. James of Springdale, who 
has alwa^'s been as a father to the Sunday School, often guiding 
and directing its cour.se, delivered an address. On the occasion of 
the second anniversary the Rev. Dr. Holtsinger preached an elo- 
quent sermon which awakened a great religious sentiment through- 
out the community. 

In Mr. Tyler's "notes of the Oak Hill Sunday vSchool" we find 
that he has spoken of the anniversary of 1872 as a "wonderful 
meeting. ' ' It was at this time that the present school-building 
was first used. Several speakers were present and made short 
speeches ; but the chief address was delivered by Judge Stanley 
Matthews, the memory of whom now ranks among the greatest 
of American statesmen and jurists. 

The records of the annual celebrations from 1872 imtil 1S94, 
not being accessible, all that we can ascertain with certainty- is, that 
Dr. James , Dr. Holtsinger and several gentlemen from Glendale, 
usually participated in the exercises. The celebration of the ex- 
istence of the Sunday School for a quarter of a century was of lui- 
usual interest. Since its organization so great a multitude had 
not gathered on this historic ground. Dr. Holtsinger preached in 
the morning and in the afternoon Dr. James, Rev. David Heron, 
Rev. Leslie Overman, Prof. Wm. Brate, Prof. C. F. Dean, Thos. 
F. Duncan, and A. C. Tyler made addresses. Miss Clare Lippel- 
man, the secretary, read an interesting paper reviewing the past 
history of the .school and commenting on its work. It is from this 
source that much of the information herein has been obtained. 

It was not until 1870 that Death, the harbinger of future happi- : 
iiess to those who walk in ways of righteousness, invaded the ranks 
of the members who aided in organizing the vSunda}' School in '69 



1 6 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILI.. 

In June, the month when the human soul by reason cf its natural 
environments seems to draw nearer to its Creator, Anna Gordon 
died. Her death was cahn and peaceful, and on the margin of 
Mr. Tyler's "Notes" he has marked opposite her name, "Gone to 
Jesus." Since then, of the superintendents Mr. Jas. F. Cuiuiing- 
ham, Mr. Geo. Thompson and H. W. Hughes have died ; the 
others are still living. 

A\"ith mingled jo}' and sadness memory recalls the earthly 
forms of those whose souls have broken from their terrestrial 
moorings and sailed heavenward ; especially do \A-e remember with 
emotion, the familiar faces of Mr. Blinn, Mar}^ Brate, Albert I^it- 
tle, Edward McClellan and Howard Waters. 

It might seem to the superficial obser\-er that the .smooth sur- 
face of rehgious effort ii; this little Sunday School produces no 
beneficial results; but, farther investigation will reveal, miderneath, 
a .strong current of earnest thought and labor that is silently wear- 
ing away the bulwarks of sin. As the success of this institution 
has been to a great extent the result of the christian zeal of Thos. 
J. Duncan and A. C. Tyler, we will clo.se this part of our narrative 
with a few statements in regard to their lives. 

Thomas J. Duncan was born in Simp.son count}', Kentucky. 
His advantages for acquiring an education were limited, as the 
country .schools of Kentucky in the da}s of his childhood and his 
youth had not attained any great proficienc}-. At seventeen he 
1-eft his home for Princeton, the county-seat of Caldwell County. 
After a successful busines career of twenty years at this place, he 
joined his brother Sanford in the importing and wholesale of silks 
and fanc}' goods in Ivoui.sville, Ky. He, with his brother, re- 
mained in this city until martial law was declared in 1862, at which 
time thev sold their business, and came to Cincinnati. Here they 
established a wholesale grocery, which to-day is one of the most 
successful business hou.ses in the city. 

Mr. Duncan was for eighteen years one of the directors of a 
Iviterary institution under the patronage of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian church in Princeton, Kentucky. When about eighteen 
years of age, being influenced by the preaching of a Methodist 
mini.ster he united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and 
two >ears afterward he became ruling elder of this institution. 
When Mr. Duncan began business in Cincinnati, he resided in 
Covington, Ky. He became an active ruling c-ldcr in the Pre.sby- 



THK HISTORY OF OAK MILL. 1 7 

terian church at this place, and, using his own words, "was greatly 
blessed in the work of visiting the sick, the needy, and sorrowing." 

In 1873 he removed to Glendale. James F. Cunnigham intro- 
duced him to the members of the Oak Hill Sunday School of 
which he at once became a prominent member. There were but 
few Sabbaths that he was absent from Oak Hill from the time of 
his first appearance. He was superintendent for more than ten 
years. In a letter written not long since Mr. Duncan sa3-s "I 
remember as members of the school at the time I first came into 
their midst: Mrs. Martha Gorman, a woman of precious memory, 
INIrs. Peter Sorter, Mr. and Mrs. Blinn, Mrs. Jas. McClellan, Mr. 
and Mrs. Hoffman * -'- * * * It was m\- pleasure all the.se vears 
to visit every family in the community. I was with them in sick- 
ness, rejoiced with them in prosperity, and shared, with them, 
their joys and sorrows." 

Man}" generations will pass from the scenes of human existence 
before the memory of Mr. Duncan will fade from the memorv of 
the people of Oak Hill : his wit and genial humor won the hearts 
of all ; his countenance glowed with the light of the spirit ; no one 
possessed the faculty' of awakening enthusiasm more than he. 
Having a thorough knowledge of the Bible, its precepts and his- 
history, his teachings were so imbued with thought and earnest- 
ness, that it was through his in.strumentalit}' that the comnumity 
was flooded with the sunshine of Christianity. 

Abel Clinton Tyler was born September 2, 1827, in Newbury 
township, Geauga count}', Ohio. His parents were Cutler and 
Sarah (nee Fisher) Tyler, who, several years earlier came from 
New England. He was born in a log cabin, and his early life was 
passed on the home farm. At the age of fifteen he profe.s.sed faith 
in the Lord Jesus, and -joined the Congregational church. He 
took a college course of study, three 3'ears at Oberlin, and one at 
the Cleveland University which subsequently with Hud.son college 
became Adelbert college. Thankfully declining his father's proff- 
ered assistance, the co.st of his education was derived from manual 
labor and teaching, for the express purpose of showing that any 
young man could obtain for himself a liberal education. He de- 
clined, also, the usual "sheepskin" or diploma, becau.se, he said, 
"it was sometimes used to pull wool over' peoples 's eyes." Until 
middle age he was a teacher, later he was employed as a book- 
keeper, accountant and agent ; never, however, quite leaving the 



l8 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 

profession of teaching, which he still regards as one of the most 
useful and privileged of life's pursuits. In this branch of work as 
connected with the Gospel and the Sunday School he has not 
reached his ideal, which is that of a true, conscientious christian. 
Mr. Tyler's connection with the Sunday School has been men- 
tioned in the preceding pages. He was its founder ; and, if a soul 
in the community has been reclaimed from sin, if a heart has been 
gladdened with the sunshine of truth, if a home has been flooded 
with happiness by reason of the establishment of this humble re- 
ligious institution far out in the country, it all may be ascribed to 
him who in the early days of its existence gave to it with loving 
fidelit}' his hand and heart. He has erected here an invisible 
monument that will serve to impress his memor>' on the minds of 
succeeding generations. Posterity when they occupy the places 
that are filled by the living of today, will speak of him with rev- 
erence and respect. His name will always be identified with the 
history of the rural district of Oak Hill, and the little children 
who .seek to learn by practical illustrations, will be taught to emu- 
late the example of this great and good man. 

m MT. # PIERPeNT. m 



One of the most interesting points in Hamilton county is Mt. 
Pierpont, a rugged height i^ miles southeast of the Oak Hill 
School House, and overlooking the broad, fertile lands of Mill- 
creek. It was named by Rev. John Pierpont, a minister of decid- 
ed anti-.slaver5^ tendencies, who had emigrated from Massacchusetts. 

The two story brick house that still stands on the highest point 
of this elevation was formerly the home of John VanZandt, the 
Kentucky abolitionist, who after giving his slaves their liberty, 
disposed of his southern plantation and came to Ohio. He was one 
of those abstruse characters whose ideas in regard to personal 
liberty were far in advance to tho.se of his generation. He believ- 
ed that slavery was morally and politicall}' wrong, and, acting on 
his convictions of "equal rights" his whole life subsequent to the 
time of his removal to his residence on Mt. Pierpont, was one of 
ceaseless effort to aid the dark sons of the South, held in ser- 
vitude and bondage, to escape to Canada. 

Notwithstanding the laws and constitutions of the .states to the 
contrary, VanZandt did not believe that there was such a species 



tup: history of oak hii,l. 19 

of property as a "slave ;" and interpreted the clause in the Decla- 
ration of Independence "that all men are created equal" as apply- 
ing to all humanity irrespective of race or color. His radical ideas 
in this respect caused him to be ostracised socially and politicall}-. 
He suffered the penalties of both the ecclesiastical and civil courts. 
He was charged with harboring fugitive slaves, and the Methodist 
church of Sharon demanded an investigation. At the trial Mr. 
VanZandt declared" that he harbored no slaves" although the 
evidence was conclusive that negroes belonging to southern plant- 
ers were then concealed in his residence. He was barred the pri\'i- 
leges of the church on the ground of "lying," but his conscience 
did not trouble him, as he sincerely believed that no man was a 
"slave" and that to assist negroes to escape from their owners was 
a Christian duty. 

In an address delivered by Judge Jos. Cox, of Glendale, before 
the Ohio Historical and Philosophical Society at Cincinnati he 
speaks of this noted character as follows : 

"He was the Kentucky anti-slavery advocate and the original 
of Mrs. Stowe's John VanTromp. For years his home was point- 
ed out as one of the most active posts of the underground railroad 
where the flying slave could alwaj-s find refuge. Here Eliza with 
her child was received and securely kept by that brave stalwart 
man who told her, she was as safe there as in her mother's arms. 
and that no per.son ever went out of that hou.se unless he was 
willing. For his zeal in protecting runaway .slaves, he was fined 
and imprisoned, his farm sold and he reduced to poverty. He 
W'as buried at the foot of the hill, at Salem church, a country 
church yard. The church and fences have long ago decayed, the 
members dead, and in 1890 some of his descendents removed his 
remains to the Wcsleyian cemetery at Cumminsville, and and 
are now attempting to raise means to erect a suitable monument 
and to inscribe on it the epitaph which appreciative friends in- 
scribed on the old .slab: 

JOHN VANZANDT, Boin September 23, 1791. 

Died at Mt.Pierpont May 25, 1847. 

In him Christianity had a living witness. He saw God as his 
father, and received every man as his brother, the cau.se of the 
poor, the orphan and the oppressed was his c0use. He fed clothed 
sheltered and guarded them. He was eyes to the blind, and feet 
to the lame. He was a tender father, a devoted husband, and a 



20 TlIIv HISTORY OF OAK UII.L. 

friend to all. He is what is here described, because he was a 
Christian Philanthropist who practiced what he believed and he 
thus lived practicing his faith." 

On Saturday Apl. 23, 1842, Mr. \'anZandt took a load of farm 
]">roduce to Cincinnati. After dispo.sing of his fruits and vegeta- 
bles lie drove to the liotise of Mr. Moore near Lane Seminary, on 
Walnut Hills ; here he remained until 3 o'clock Sunday morning' 
when he arose, saying, that he intended to drive home in the 
"cool of the morning. While hitching his horses to his wagon, 
which he had left in the highway the preceding evening he dis- 
covered eight negroes standing in the shadows of the trees, a few 
feet distant. They were seeking a passage to Canada, and no 
sooner did Mr. A'anZandt become aware of their destination than 
he invited them to enter his conveyance : then, after fastening the 
curtains .secureh' on all sides he gave the lines to a colored lad 
named Andrew and proceeded northward. 

Among Mr. \'an Zandt's neighbors were many friends of the 
institution of slavery, and a number of them being aware of the 
reward that was given for the return of fugitive slaves to their 
ma.sters, kept the ardent abolitionist under strict stir\'eillance. 
Two of them named Hargraves and Hefferman resided at Sharon. 
They were awakened near the dawn of this e^■entft^l Sabbath morn- 
ing by Mr. A'anZandt's wagon driven rapidly through the little 
hamlet. Their suspicions vrere arotised at once, and, rising they 
mounted their horses and started in pursuit. They overtook ^Nlr. 
VanZandt and the negroes near Bates, a .small settlement, a few 
miles so tithwest of Lebanon, O.* Hargraves hailed the negro driv- 
er and ordered him to stop. "Drive on, " was the command issued 
by Van Zandt from within. The boy did as he was bid, but to 
escape was impossible. \'an Zandt was captured, and, upon being 
questioned he said, "I knew they were slaves so called but they 
were born free." The driver escaped, but the seven remaining 
negroes were returned to Mr. Jones, a gentleman of Kentucky, to 
whom they belonged. Mr. Yan Zandt was arrested, imprisoned, 
and fined twelve hundred dollars, six hundred of which was the 
price of the slaves, four hundred the reward, and two hundred in- 
cidental expenses of Mr. Jones in his efforts to recover the negroes. 

At the trial Salmon P. Chase represented the defendant with 
remarkable ability, but as it was conclusively proven that his client 
had violated the law as it then existed he could not save him from 



THR HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 21 

a conviction. As the }-oung attorney left the court-room after his 
famous argument, a copy of which is now in the possession of 
Judge Joseph Cox, it is said that one of the judges remarked, 
"There goes a young man who has ruined himself todaj-." This 
indicates the strength of the prejudice against the abolitionist and 
the generality of the opinion tliat the vStructure of slavery would 
never fall, that those w^lio advocated the absolute emancipation of 
the negroes, would never attain positions of trust and influence. 
It is superflous to add that Chase afterward became the great War 
Secretary of the Treasury, and later, Chief Justice of the U. S. 

It is probable that no stronghold of the Abolitionists was better 
known in ante-bellum days throughout the south, than Mt. Pier- 
pont. Rumors of its prominent and lofty site, and the kindness 
and braver)" of its owner, impelled many a persecuted slave to fly 
from the wrath of his master, and seek this ho.spital)le refuge. 
William Cornell, an aged attome\-, now residing in lyockland, re- 
lates the following story: 

"On a rainy evening in June 1843, I was returning from Cin- 
cinnati by way of Reading turnpike, with a team attached to a hay 
wagon. When about a mile from the old corporation line, two 
young colored people, a boy and a girl, asked if tl^py might ride. 
Upon being answered in the affirmative, they seated themselves on 
the wagon. My companions were quiet and silent, neither of them 
speaking a word. I suspected they were trying to reach Yan 
Zandt's station. After passing Reading, they were wide awake 
and alert as if suspecting something, but said nothing to me or to 
each other. Finally when we reached the farm of John R. Dick, 
and Mt. Pierpont loomed up in the distance, the lad impulsivel}' 
exclaimed, "There it is!" I told them I thought the}' were look- 
ing for that place and would show them the road leading to it. 
They said nothing, but disrriounted and started toward the house 
on the hill. I never heard from m}' silent companions afterward, 
but I have no doubt that the}' met with a hospita1:>le reception at 
the home of John Van Zandt." 

To relate the great number of interesting incidents concerning 
this noted height, is beyond the object of this sketch. We will 
conclude with the suggestion that means .should be provided for 
the preserv'ation of the house on its summit and the erection of a 
tablet with appropriate inscriptions. The Children of Oak Hill 
and surrounding villages should be taught its histon,'. It is not 



22 The history of oak hili,. 

possible to imagine a more heroic figure in the annals of our coun- 
try than John VanZandt devoting himself to an unpopular cause 
and by serving it with fidelity suffering obloquy and persecution. 
A knowledge of Mt. Pierpont will cause "Uncle Tom's Cabin" 
to be read with renewed interest, and a wholsome influence for 
good will be derived from the study of the life of this zealcus abo- 
litionist in whose character Harriet Beecher Stowe discerned all 
the elem.ents of sublimity in moral actions. 

<::l BIOGRAPHIGAli # SKETCHES ^ 



ARTHUR SORTER SR., was born in 1793, and died in 1869, His fath- 
er. Thomas Sorter, came from New Jersey in 1810, and settled on the Ross 
estate south of Springdale. The difficulties attending a journey to the west- 
ern countr}-, at a time when roads were unknown, are beyond description, 
\Vhile crossing the Alleghenies, the Sorters were so unfortunate as to lose 
one of their oxen, which was used in drawing the great low-wheeled wagon. 
The cow was put to service ; and, after traveling in this manner for 6 months 
they arrived careworn and weary at their destination. 

Thomas Sorter had three sons, Hezekiah, John, and Arthur, the latter be- 
ing the father of Arthur Sorter, Jr. These sons owned several hundred acres 
of land, lying §outh of Crescentville, Arthur Sorter, Sr, married Miss Fan- 
nie Tucker, sister of Manning Tucker, who was the son of one of the settlers 
at Tucker's Station in 1793, They lived many j-ears in a log house south- 
west of the present residence of his son Arthur, They were both buried in 
the private graveyard located on the Indian mound south-east of their dwell- 
ing. Arthvir Sorter Jr, respected by all, is still living in the full strength of 
all his faculties, ever ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. 

CORNELIUS LITTlvE is a descendent of an ancient and honorable 
family that came from England in 1630. His grandfather, Cornelius, emi- 
grated from New Jersey at an early day, and settled on a tract southwest of 
the Oak Hill School-house. He bought it of Mr. Adams to whom it had 
been sold by Judge Symmes. One end of the present dwelling of Mr. Little, 
is made of the material used in the first house constructed by his grandfather 
on coming to this country. Cornelius Little Sr. was twice married. By 
the first marriage were born Catharine and Rebecca; and Rebecca who mar- 
ried Mr. Murdock, was drowned in Mill creek while fording it near Carthage. 
B}- his second marriage, to ISIartha Drake, one son and two daughters were 
born, James, Keziah and Martha; James who married Betsy Larew, was the 
father of Cornelius Little Jr. with whom we are concerned. Mr. Little was 
born in 1S17 and is now living in the old homestead. Age and infirmity 
have nearly asserted their own, yet from his features there flows a generous 
and warm friendship that wins the heart of all who seek it. He is one of 
the most genial of men, and when he speaks of his boyhood, it seems as if 
the world in which he then lived were foreign to the Mi.l creek Valley. 



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THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 23 

JOHN SWALIvOW was one of the oldest pioneers in the Mill creek Val- 
ley. His father came to the country before the days of the log school house. 
There were then no teachers, the young philomatheans being obliged to teach 
themselves. His father Isaac Swallow an old Revolutionary patriot, came 
from New Jersey and first settled at Reading, but finding the location un- 
favorable bought of Mr. Adams a tract lying north of the present village of 
Glendale. He had three sons, Benjamin, Garret and John. John Swallow 
was born in 1S02 and lived for many years in the log house built by his fath- 
er. He then erected the residence in which his son and aged widow now 
reside. He experienced all the hardships incident to frontier life. He was 
married on New Year's day 1844 to Miss Mary Miller; by this mar- 
riage were born two sons and three daughters; namely, Arthur, Isaac, Marv, 
Anna and Martha. Arthur, Anna and Martha were for several years mem- 
bers and officers of the Sunday school. 

Arthur now lives with his mother in the homestead. His father often 
conversed with him concerning the customs of the early settlers, and our ac- 
knowledgements are due to him for much of our information concerning 
them. Anna with her husband. Mr. Jacob Alexander, resides in Louisville. 
Martha is the wife of James McClellan a prosperous farmer living in the com- 
munity. Mr. McClellan, too, was an ardent supporter of the Sabbath school 
in the early days of its existence, 

JOSEPH GORMAN emigrated from near New Jersey about 1S20, In 1S32 
he was married to Miss Martha Larew, now one of the oldest of the pioneers. 
By this marriage were born two sons, and five daughters ; Wilson, Amos, 
Elizabeth, Keziah and Matilda, all of whom still survive. 

Mrs. Gorman is a descendant of the same old family as the Littles. She 
was born May 9, 1815, and lived nearly her whole life in the vicinity of Oak 
Hill. Her father, Moses Larew, fought in the war of 1812 in a company of 
which Asa Hinkle was captain. He also constructed near their estate in 1827 
two sections of the canal. At a dinner given by Mrs. Gorman December 13 
1S83, the following noted company was present ; Mrs. Larew, ninety one ; 
Mrs. Gorman, sixty-eight ; her daughter. Mrs. Hoffman, fifty ; her grand- 
daughter Mrs. Cruser, thirty ; and her great-granddaughter, three. The sum 
of the ages of the five generations amount to 242 years. There were present 
also, the mother-in-law of I\Irs. Hoffman, eighty-three; and the mother-in-law 
of Mrs. Cruser, fifty-two. The total nomber of }ears of the five grandmothers 
was 344 5'ears. 

In her j-outhful days IVIrs. Larew emigrated with her husband from Scotch 
Plains, then Somerset County, New Jersey and located in the wilds of Hamil- 
ton County near Crescentville, where she and her descendants, in 1883 num- 
bered ninety-one, (exclusive of persons marrying into the family) and consis- 
ted of six children, twent3--four grand children sixty-one great grand child- 
ren, and eight great-great-grand children, their united ages amounting to 
2279 years. 

PETERSON SORTOR now resides upon the estate once owned by his 
father, Hezekiah Sortor, who was the son of Thomas Sortor whom we have 
mentioned. His mother, the late Mrs. Cox, was born near Sandy Hook, 
Ivlew Jersey, March 14, 1793 and died at the age of ninety -one. "When she 



24 THE HISTORY OF OAK HILL. 

was but SIX -weeks old her parents started from their Eastern home to seek their 
fortune in the Northwest Territory', the then "Far West," arriving at ?tlays-- 
ville, Kentucky, at the time General Wayne was making his successful cam- 
paign against the Indians of the Miami \'alley. They tarried there until, b\' 
a terrible slaughter of these sons of the forest, he had humbled them, and 
brought them to tenns of peace. They purchased a farm from John Cleves 
Symmcs, one mile southwest of Springdale.and here Mrs. Cox grew to wom- 
anhood, the ninety years of her life being spent within six miles of this old 
homestead. The life of this estimable woman is a good ilbastration of the ' in- 
scrutable wa5-s of Providence." At birth she is said to have been a frail, sickly 
child, of most diminutive proportions; and having no idea tha.t she would sur- 
vive the journey West, her father, before starting, purchased a very small 
hair trunk to be used for a coffin if she died on the road. But the sickly ba- 
by lived to see her great-great-grand children. The little trunk has been 
preserved and is now in the possession of a relative, 

Mr. Sortorhas now reached the age of seventy four j-ears; his father and 
grandfather are buried in the old Baptist burying grounds north of Lockland. 
Usefulnesr seems to be the paramount object of his life, and the good he has 
rendered his neighbors, by giving his aid to all improvements that would in- 
crease their happiness, cannot be measured. 

JOHN MOORE was born in 1834. His father came from the Shenan- 
doah valley, Virginia, and settled near Madisonville, in 1814. He was mar- 
ried in 1859 to Matilda Furlong, by which marriage were born two sons and 
three daughters, Edward, Herbert, Mary, Ruth and Lulu. 

Mr. Moore in 1854 entered the profession of teaching, which avocation 
he followed successfully until 1S78, when an affliction of the ej-es compelled 
him to retire and apply himself to farming. 

He had charge of the Oak Hill schools for three years, during which 
time he displayed considerable efficiency and ability. He is one of the most 
ardent members of the M. E. Church, of which he has been an officer for 
for many jears. 

MICHAEL MOSTELLER, Sr., is one of the oldest living inhabitants of 
this region. Until age obliged him to retire from active labor, he pursued 
the occupation of farming with exceptional industry and success. 

He was born June 11, 1820, on the William Runyan farm, now owned by 
the heirs of David Brecount, His father, Peter Mosteller, came to Ohio from 
North Carolina in 1800, and settled on the hills east of Sharon, in which vi- 
cinity he and his descendants have since lived. George Mosteller, eldest 
son of Michael, now resides in the old homestead on the banks of Millcreek. 
He has always taken a lively interest in the educational interests of Oak Hill 
and is now a member of the Board of Directors of Kemper Special School 
District. 

m eeNGuasiON. ^ 



Thus we have narrated the brief history of Oak Hill and its 
inhabitants ; what hes bevond, we cannot tell ; generation after 



THE HISTORY OI- OAK HILT.. 2 = 

generation have passed into the great beyond, and younger hands 
and hearts have now assumed the responsibihties of their ancestors. 
Soon there will be but few to tell us of those noble pioneers and 
halcyon days when men lived nearer to nature and their God, and 
were not perplexed by conflicting interests that spring from the 
present state of culture. 

No longer is the valley made dreary by tlie moaning of the 
forests, but yellow fields of grain waving in the bright sunlight of 
Autumn, gladden the landscape. The echo of the woodman's ax 
lias been lost in space. Instead of the log cal^n with its broad 
fire-place sending its volume of curlin.g smoke above the trees in 
some isolated settlement, palatial re.sidences crown the summit of 
every hill : the innocent pleasures of the apple-cuttings, log roll- 
ings, and corn-huskings ha\-e been suj^erseded b}- more refined and 
cultivated amusements. 

Old landmarks, too, are fast being obliterated b>- the progress 
of the age. The old sycamore tree that .stood for centuries, in all 
the sublimity of its greatness, along the .shining waters of the 
INIaketewa CMillcreekj, on the road leading from Sharon to Spring- 
dale, has fallen but recently a victim to man's destructive tenden- 
cies. The fate of this prodigy of the woods is but a prophecy of 
the fate of those octogenerians, who, for more than four-.score 
years, have .stood like the giants of the forest amid all the changino- 
scenes of time. They long for the pleasures of former days ; mod- 
ern culture with all its beneficial results cannot fill their hearts 
with the joys they experienced, when they dwelt in the cabin and 
the sun could be seen only through the trees. The old manners 
and customs have become obsolete, the new fail to awaken their 
delight ; and, they linger with us, with their faces toward tlie sun- 
.set gates of life, longing for the all devouring hand of Time to 
.sever them from the things of this world. 

As we gaze o'er the ^lillcreek \-alle>-, which may be compared 
with that of Ras.selas, we a.sk,'AVho transformed the den.se wilder- 
ness into this blooming garden?" It has been accomplished by 
the Swallows, the Littles, the vSorters, the McClellans, tlie Mo.s- 
tellers, the Kempers, the Gormans and their descendants. 

While .standing west of the residence of Cornelius Little, Jr. 
on that which was called by the Indians the "Hi.tjh Hill", there 
dawns on the vision, a pleasant vallc>- that rivals in beauty tlio.se 
of Irving's eloquent descriptions. To the .southward ]\It. Piernont 



26 Tine HISTORY OF OAK HIIX. 

the quondam refll,^■e for the runa\va>- shwe, rises above the mists 
of the stream that flows throu!:;h tlie lowlands near its base. Mt. 
Chapultepec, an Indian mound on the farm of William Price, tow- 
ering above all other elevations of this vicinity, is gilded with the 
rays of the rising sun. In the low fertile regions between these 
heights the colors of the spectrum glow in every dew-drop ; the tog 
rising from the earth seems like clouds of silvery spray ascending 
onl}- to be melted in the ethereal regions. At uncertain intervals, 
there may be seen, too, the boats gently gliding down the canal, 
and the locomotive winding its way toward the city be\ond. 

With the exception of John Cochran vSr. the citizens of Oak 
Hill have not distinguished them.selves in legislative halls, l)Ut oy 
their strict adherence to the laws, and their habits of indu.stry, 
they have contributed to the welfare of the government. 

As the present residents of this vicinit)' meditate on that which 
has been done by their ancestors in the cause of humanity, they, 
too, should resolve to lend their best efforts to aid the present and 
f utui'e generations. Their greatest ambition should be to preserve 
"the heritage of their fathers in all its pri.stine purity''that 'old 
Oak Hill may always remain the home of a law-abiding and 
righteous people. Their epitapli, then, may bear to .succeding 
generations as great .significance as that engraved on the moun- 
ment of Arthur vSorter, vSr.: 

"A LIFE OF HONOR, and A DEATH OF GLORY." 



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Oak Hill. 



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[ APR 231896) 

HISTORIGAL SKefSfi 



-BY 



CHARLES W. HOFFMAN. LL. B. 



1596 



" What idles if there be tongues in trees; 
These giant oaks could tell, 
Of beings born and buried here. 

HALLECK. 



.... NORWOOD, OHIO 

Stanley M. Langdon & Company, printers 






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